‘CG Road jeweller stole 300-year-old silver idol’

A300-year-old silver idol belonging to a temple in Thaltej has been reported stolen and the temple’s trustee has accused a CG Road jeweller of the crime. A complaint registered by the trustee of Shanti Mahadev Mandir claims that Dipak Khaitan, owner of Chandidham Silver Palace in Mardia Plaza, C G Road, and his accomplice stole the idol of Shri Narsinh Bhagwan which had been given to them for polishing. The complaint stated that the 115gm idol along with other silverware from the temple had been given to the jeweller for cleaning and framing on September 19.

The other accused named in the complaint is Ashok Panchal who owns Vishwakarma Acrylic Work. According to the complainant Amrut Patel, 78, the shopowner had, at the time, given him the option of selling the idol as it would fetch him good money. “However, Patel had refused to sell the idol. Later, Patel visited the shop several times but the owner kept telling him that the cleaning process was not over. Finally, when the owner told him that he had misplaced the idol, Patel decided to file a police complaint fearing the antique had been stolen,” the complaint stated.

Patel told Mirror, “I had given the 300-year-old silver idol of Shri Narsinh Bhagwan to Dipak for cleaning and framing on September 19. Looking at the idol, Dipak had told me that it was an antique and would fetch quite a handsome price. However, I told him it was a matter of faith, so I did not want to sell the idol. I had also given some other silverware used at the temples (utensils, etc) to be remade.”

Patel told Navrangpura police that while the jeweller returned the other silver articles, he did not return the idol despite repeated visits to his shop. “Finally Dipak told Patel that the idol had been misplaced at Panchal’s shop. Meanwhile Dipak told Mirror, “The idol has been misplaced not stolen. I am ready to compensate them for their loss. I had offered to sell the idol for the temple but I had not quoted any price.” Navrangpura Sub Inspector B K Goswami said, “We have registered the offence and started investigations.”

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